Compare towns
Castleton vs Eden vs Northfield vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Eden has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Eden | Northfield | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
1,351Lowest |
5,920Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.7±1.9 13% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Eden and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$83,578±$8k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$215,900±$27kLowest 32% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Northfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,300±$441 5% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,313 34% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.3%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
77.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 63% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #42 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.